Planned as a joint initiative of the Department of Middle East and North Africa, University of Lodz, the Department for European Islam Studies of the University of Warsaw, and the Arabic Language and Culture Centre, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, the International Symposium will focus on political and social issues in the Muslim world in the 20th and 21st centuries. Presentations on various parts of the Islamic world – from Morocco to South-East Asia, including Muslims living outside these areas – will analyze domestic policies of the states inhabited by Muslims as well as foreign policies and international relations, and issues connected with the presence of Muslims in the West. The 21st century, especially following the so-called “Arab Spring”, saw a widely visible change of certain paradigms regarding issues fundamental to the development of the world where Muslims or those who rely on Islam play a crucial role. It can be an edifying as well as a destructive force. These problems will be presented from various viewpoints, using a variety of methodologies and national perspectives. The Symposium is interdisciplinary in character, all researchers representing different fields and disciplines are invited to participate in the initiative.